Finding Foxtale Forest: Book One
The diverse cohort of young girls–Danielle, from California; Pax, in Tennessee; Eva in New York; Amy from Texas; Kex from Michigan–find much allure in the promise of adventure. Of young Eva, frustrated by her mother's workaholism on a planned trip to the New York Public Library, Hewitt writes, “It was a beautiful feeling, being invited. To know that she was needed.” Eva is enticed by the promise of time travel and aiding others, and Hewitt deftly gives each participant her own compelling reasons for taking this chance.
With a whoosh and a thump the fun begins, as the fox transports the girls to the forest and then on fun jaunts: first, to a dusty town struggling with drought for years, and after that they join a sea captain determined to amass all the world's treasures. Can the girls observe, collaborate, and determine how to bring these tales to their happy endings? Only by combining their individual skills and working together will they have a chance to fulfill this goal. In frisky, engaging prose that is itself touched with forest magic, Finding Foxtale Forest weaves together themes of friendship, adventure, collaboration, and the power of storytelling, all while creating a delightful and engaging tale of its own.
Takeaway: Fun adventure of girls discovering magic, friendship, and the power of storytelling.
Comparable Titles: Jacqueline West’s Long Lost, Katherine Applegate’s Willodeen.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Despite the lack of a singular protagonist, Olson’s ensemble and his intricately crafted milieu propels the narrative forward. Andrea emerges as the connecting thread between the two narrative epochs, as she embarks with Mary and Evan on a quest for answers. The atmospheric setting of Cape Wrath serves as a character in itself, with Olson's vivid descriptions (one light is “small but brilliant, and it hovered above the dark mass of the ridge, on a horizon separating land and sea”) evoking the harsh beauty and isolation of Scotland's northern coast.
In the end, the lighthouse fittingly emerges as the center point of everyone’s quest for answers, providing much-needed closure for Andrea. Olson's indulgent storytelling and rich character development will transport readers of richly emotional literary romances into a place caught between land and sea, past and present, and reality and the supernatural. Olson captures the essence of this place and these characters across decades, crafting a timeless romance rich with poignant reflections on the human experience and the complexities of grief.
Takeaway: Decades-spanning story of romance, mystery, and a remote Scottish lighthouse.
Comparable Titles: M.L. Stedman’s The Light Between Oceans, Hazel Gaynor’s The Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Teachers—both beginners and those more seasoned—will appreciate Hazel’s sensible, action-oriented advice. Whether it’s creative ways to collaborate with colleagues and the community (including a fun aside about International Dot Day that offers readers inventive ways to “celebrat[e] the unique talents and gifts” of students) or ideas on how to effectively utilize wall space, Hazel covers all the bases, providing crisp, logical methods to “mak[e] a lasting impression on the lives of children,” while easing the stress that inevitably accompanies a career as challenging as education. In a nod to that stress, Hazel takes time to highlight why self-care is so important, encouraging teachers to set personal and professional boundaries and continually assess their priorities to become “a happier, more productive, more effective teacher.”
Particularly helpful are Hazel’s real-life examples and concrete guidelines, including potential tasks teachers can share with a grade partner, incisive considerations about the role of a public sector employee, and the signs that a class is well-organized and efficient (among them: students won’t need constant direction and a sense of calm will prevail, among others). She details preferred ways to respond to problems that arise as well, including sticky conversations with parents, and her advice that teaching is “a huge responsibility and an incredible gift” resonates.
Takeaway: Hands-on, functional guidance and advice for educators.
Comparable Titles: Andi McNair’s A Meaningful Mess, Jeff C. Marshall’s The Highly Effective Teacher.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Cold Fury
Under around-the-clock protection from the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team, led by Aaron Nash, Hope finds herself bunking down with Nash and his operatives inside her home, while Leech goes on an escalating spree of murders—and seeks vengeance against those responsible for his conviction. As Hope continues her pursuit of justice in the courtroom while being surrounded by armed men, Agent Frazer is assigned to the hunt, and Leech’s personal assistant, Blake Delaware, and old friend Eloisa are drawn into the fray. Meanwhile, Aaron grapples with Hope’s controlling nature—and wrestles with mistrust towards her brother-in-law Brendan—until the two collide in the throes of a forbidden romance, complicating an already volatile situation.
Anderson masterfully weaves a tale of danger and desire, expertly balancing suspense with romantic tension in this fourth installment of her Cold Justice – Most Wanted series (after Cold Snap). The narrative threads converge in a gripping climax, leading to her capture by Leech. Amidst the chaos, a shocking revelation about Hope’s family changes everything. Anderson delves into the complexities of a relentless woman confronting the fallout of her ambition, while highlighting the consequences of misdeeds in an unjust and corrupt world.
Takeaway: Romantic thriller fueled by gripping tension and an explosive ending.
Comparable Titles: Willow Rose’s Don’t Lie to Me, Jo Nesbo’s Police.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
The journey is incremental and unhurried, as Busenbark lingers on descriptions of her surroundings and extracts philosophical lessons from her experiences. It’s also punctuated by tragedy—not long after her husband’s death, Busenbark’s son, Richard, died of an overdose—but not in a way that is depressing; rather, it’s a slow, aching pain that gradually transcends into a deep appreciation for the small treasures in life. Busenbark’s artistic side manifests in the stunning visual imagery of her writing, as when she describes the changes she undergoes as “layers of emotion stacked up like a pile of old books, each with a story and hundreds of pages.”
The memoir’s second half is devoted to Busenbark’s sailing excursion with Tim from Maine to Florida, a meandering but vivid flow of historical landmarks, sailing jargon, and shocking weather. Family members often pop in for guest appearances, and Busenbark is candid about the fears that accompany such an immense undertaking. Her memories of Rick beat a steady rhythm throughout, as she wisely declares “there are some things you can’t fix and some thoughts that remain buried within our souls.” This is a poignant narrative about love, loss, and life that exposes the heartrending side of grief alongside the beauty that comes with healing.
Takeaway: A widow rediscovers herself through art, sailing, and new love.
Comparable Titles: Joan Didion’s The Year of Magical Thinking, Meghan O’Rourke’s The Long Goodbye.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A
Not that the electronics, to Foley, are the most important thing. He persuasively describes them as “symbiotic and sophisticated hitchhikers” that “contribute little to nothing positive to the mechanical voice of the instrument” but are “key to a panorama of voicings.” Foley’s brisk, millennia-spanning tour of the history of guitar development, from hunting bow to harpsichord to lute, and his in-depth breakdown of the individual components of guitars and their functions, all blend research, experimentation, and first-hand expertise in how guitar components affect tone production. Rather than settle for just explaining the function and evolution of the nut slot, he demonstrates how to calculate the gravitational force on a string in the slot to better understand tuning problems.
Foley’s commitment to showing the work, including the equations, will thrill math-minded guitarists interested in the finer points of capacitive currents, though readers looking for a more introductory approach will at times be left behind. They’ll still discover much that demystifies the workings of guitars, from the cut and structure of necks to the fact that “in guitar circuitry, it’s not where the wire goes, but what goes through the wire.”
Takeaway: Illuminating guide to the science, sound, and evolution of guitars.
Comparable Titles: Paul Atkinson’s Amplified, Rhianne Conway’s How a Guitar Works.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
One afternoon on a father-son bike ride, Teddy goes a little too fast and ends up falling and scraping his arm on the sidewalk. Bear is also hurt, with his stuffing spilling out at the seams. After Daddy patches up Teddy, Teddy mends Bear with band-aids—but it proves to be only a temporary fix. On the way home from the park, they stop and see Teddy’s grandfather, who carefully mends Bear with a needle and thread. These tender scenes offer an opportunity for kids and adults to discuss the power of passing kindness down through generations and illustrate the concept that our actions matter deeply to other people.
Smith’s action-packed illustrations show Teddy and his dad as they start their day, prepare lunch on the grill, race cars, and head out on their adventure. Wearing a bright yellow helmet with green spikes on top, Teddy tears down the sidewalk on his tricycle with button-eyed Bear in his handlebar basket, a cloud of dust behind him. Most powerful is the consistently understanding expression on Daddy’s face, creating a warm and safe place for Teddy to land when he inevitably falls. Ultimately this wholesome story showcases a good-natured version of masculinity that feels both refreshing and vital.
Takeaway: A young bear learns from his father to be a gentle, loving caretaker..
Comparable Titles: Terry Border’s Big Brother Peanut Butter, Anna McQuinn’s Lola Reads to Leo,
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Combining personal narrative and partially redacted transcripts of evidentiary hearings and other court proceedings, author Eric relays the story of his relationship with the man he called “Pops,” a loving father who, as Eric writes, “not only fulfilled his role as a dad but also became one of my closest confidants.” These passages are touching, as are Eric’s accounts of the aftermath, finding support from unexpected quarters (including relatives of Angelee's), and learning through hearings exactly what transpired in his father’s last moments.
The bulk of the book shares testimony from those hearings. In the end, Angelee was found not guilty by reason of insanity and remanded to a mental health facility, likely for the remainder of her life. The narrative would benefit from more first-person storytelling; in narrative passages, Eric’s style is offhand but effective, especially when capturing what it feels like, in the moment, to face such momentous hearings. The court transcripts are enlightening but also repetitive and technical, and more summaries and some explanations of state statutes and forensic terms would provide greater clarity.
Takeaway: A son faces his father’s murder and the transcribed hearings that followed.
Comparable Titles: Rachel Howard’s The Lost Night, Sarah Perry’s After the Eclipse.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: B+
Illustrations: A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: B
Each of Russo’s celebrated feminine influences on van Gogh’s life boasts a distinct identity and unique conflicts that add depth to the narrative. The women appear chronologically, allowing readers an organic glimpse of their development alongside van Gogh’s deterioration—and its subsequent effects on his artform. Johanna powers the narrative with evocative recollections of van Gogh’s mother, Anna, who struggled with “melancholia”; van Gogh’s first love, Eugenie Loyer; Marguerite Gachet, the daughter of van Gogh’s doctor; and more. The women each offer extraordinary viewpoints on the many facets of van Gogh’s life, gifting readers a well-rounded, engrossing study of his character.
Russo takes on van Gogh’s struggle with mental health as well, masterfully steering through the weight of his crumbling life and delivering a nuanced portrayal of his complexities as both a man and an artist, as when Anna van Gogh reflects that “[Vincent] came into the world under a cloud. He chose to live under it.” The narrative is built from a wealth of primary sources, including letters exchanged between van Gogh and his brother, Theo, and Russo closes the book with brief summaries of the central females’ lives after van Gogh’s death. The result is a provocative and compelling look at one of history’s most enigmatic artists.
Takeaway: Fresh take on van Gogh through the women central to his life.
Comparable Titles: Marta Molnar’s The Secret Life of Sunflowers, Debby Beece’s The Van Gogh Woman.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Fatal Harvest: A Hunter and Tate Mystery
This strong series entry stands alone despite a healthy number of references to earlier books. But the present is urgent enough that new readers will be swept along, as the investigation introduces neighbors, friends, enemies, and observers in the small village and beyond, while also exploring the inner workings of the lives of the police working the case, as well as Ella—who one character notes is “like an antisocial turtle”—and her circle. Relationships are tested, toxic work conditions are exposed, and slowly, piece by piece, lies and betrayals get revealed.
While the leads remain engaging, the touching dynamic between Matt and Jimmy stands as the most captivating part of the story, as these boys find friendship, trust, and acceptance in each other. Writing from the perspective of Jimmy, Chapman offers vital, humane insight into struggles at home, at school, and with other people's expectations of who and how he should be. In Matt, Jimmy finds security and worth—and he’ll risk everything to keep Matt safe. The richness of characterization, though, never comes at the expense of the assured pacing.
Takeaway: Standout procedural of a cop and podcaster chasing a killer and a missing boy.
Comparable Titles: Tami Hoag’s The Boy, John McMahon’s P.T. Marsh series.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-
This first volume centers on hunter-gatherers as they settle into a new way of life, as camps become cities like Urfa, monuments get erected at camps like Tallstone, and bold figures like Valki dare to take up a new path, “one that a woman has never traveled before.” At the story’s heart are Valki—a gatherer who pioneers the cultivation of crops, exulting “There is so much to learn about growing things”—and stonecutter/skywatcher Pumi, who at first is judged a disappointment by the chief, especially in comparison to Pumi’s brother Vanam. But thoughtful Pumi, who relishes knowledge like how to measure hunting seasons by stones and stars, will also help bring newness into the world—including sex for the sake of pleasure.
Writing in direct, inviting prose distinguished by a touch of the sensual and a fascination with ancient beliefs and mysteries, Wammack dramatizes the fates of the brothers, which involve classic themes of fraternal conflict. But the storytelling here is concerned with the development of ideas and ways of living, rather than traditional narrative suspense. The surprising, often touching result will appeal to anyone fascinated by what makes us human—and the earliest moment when one of us could say, “Let us speak of the joy of life.”
Takeaway: Deeply human historical fiction of the dawn of civilization.
Comparable Titles: Elizabeth Marshall Thomas’s The Old Way, Andrew Collins’s Gobekli Tepe.
Production grades
Cover: C
Design and typography: B
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-
Daughtry expertly contrasts the experiences of Gordon’s privileged family with that of his sharecroppers, particularly the grim realities that the Sanders endured as a Black family in the midcentury South. Both Will and Louis are up against impossible odds as they try to provide for their families, and when Louis’s son, Jake, is blamed for harming Junior when defending his sister, he’s forced to flee their small town for Philadelphia, desperate to make ends meet so he can study medicine. Meanwhile, Gordon’s tobacco crops can’t keep pace with his spending habits, and he rashly decides to bring on a crew of migrant workers from another state—a choice that results in disaster.
Gordon—and society’s—treatment of the sharecroppers is painful to read, but Daughtry capably evokes harsh historical truths of the era, particularly the generational abuse that wealthy landowners inflicted on the descendents of enslaved peoples. The reverberations of that shake through the Sanders’s family as the story builds to some dark consequences, though some of the most reliable women, Ella and Mary Grace, overcome obstacles as they strive toward happiness. Gordon eventually faces some justice, though he never truly makes amends for his harmful behaviors. Change, of course, comes in the end, but the cost for all involved is steep.
Takeaway: Expansive portrait of mid century landowners and sharecroppers in the American South.
Comparable Titles: Nathan Harris’s The Sweetness of Water, Margaret Wilkerson Sexton’s The Revisioners.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B+
Marketing copy: A
Rabbi Ben Zvi Kantorwicz, an Auschwitz survivor, is a leader in the Aleph Bet and a legendary protector who’s successfully hunted down each of his targets, save one—a German war colonel named Helmut Mussman, currently headquartered in Denver, Colorado, who’s managed to evade capture and is now driving the attempted takeover of the remnant Nazis. When Ben Zvi finds himself on trial in 1964 for avenging the murder of a Jewish grandfather, his Auschwitz history with Mussman crops up in more ways than one, and Shabel (author of Four Women) expertly bounces the story between the novel’s present timeline and Auschwitz in the 1940s.
The plot brims with twists and conspiracies, delivering fast-paced thrills while wrestling with themes of discrimination and the morality of revenge, as the Aleph Bet leaders seek to answer just how far they should go to protect their own—and when the killing will stop, if ever. Shabel’s experience as an attorney is evident throughout, illuminated in his believable courtroom scenes that are rich with dramatic flair and rhetoric, though the graphic violence and murders are not for the squeamish. For fans of history-driven suspense paired with intense action, this is a gripping read.
Takeaway: Breakneck Nazi-hunting page-turner in the aftermath of World War II.
Comparable Titles: Joseph Kanon’s The Accomplice, Alan Elsner’s The Nazi Hunter.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
Gates of Wisdom: How Rabbi Yehonatan Eybeshitz Created "Am Yisrael Chai" & His Other Life Stories
Barber finds contemporary—but timeless—resonance in Reb Yehonatan’s work as a master maker of amulets, especially when he served as rabbi in the French town of Metz, where Jews faced expulsion. Barber demonstrates that, while facing this crisis, Reb Yehonatan inscribed on amulets a powerful phrase whose historical origin has been the source of great comment and curiosity in the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks. The phrase: Am Yisrael Chai, which is often translated as “The Jewish people will live for eternity.” Barber persuasively credits Reb Yehonatan with the creation of this rallying cry, and he calculates that Reb Yehonatan wrote it almost 46,000 times.
As in Barber’s indispensable earlier translations of Reb Yehonatan’s writings (Pearls of Wisdom; Sparks of Wisdom), the stories collected here have been translated with an eye for clarity of communication. They cover a wide variety of scenarios, from points of law to brilliant ripostes to why sometimes, in the face of injustice, it’s justified to bribe a judge. The prose is direct and inviting, even when the young rabbi-to-be spins marvelous, playful conclusions out of complexities of law and language. Helpful background sections provide crucial context as the stories follow Reb Yehonatan into maturity and across Europe, demonstrating not just that the Jewish people will live for eternity but invaluable guidance for how best to do so.
Takeaway: Brilliant tales of an 18th century rabbi’s life, with urgent contemporary resonance.
Comparable Titles: Yaacov Dovid Shulman’s Rashi; Rebbe Nahman of Breslov.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Val Vega: Secret Ambassador of Earth
At Umberto’s wake, Val discovers the true nature of his work: he was Earth’s ambassador for the interstellar council of planets, his co-workers are space aliens, and he was most likely murdered. On top of those otherworldly revelations, the Interstellar Assembly is coming up, and Val’s been named as Umberto’s successor—and she’s urgently needed to negotiate a treaty between the Etoscans and the Levinti, alien colonists who are fighting for control of the planet Hosh. As Val finds her footing in the interstellar world of politics, her confidence slowly grows, a much-needed shift given her suspicions about her uncle’s death.
Readers will relish being swept into Val’s efforts to find the traitor amongst her uncle’s alien co-workers: is it Johnny, a Synthetic who used to be a war machine; Pash-Ti, an arrogant seven-foot-tall stick insect and Levinti sympathizer; or Wasala, a Hoshan exile and telepath, who resembles a six-legged raccoon? To aid with her search, Val confides in and enlists the help of Timoteo, her older brother and Harvard poli-sci major, who happens to have the hots for Johnny. Francisco’s writing is fast-paced and heartfelt, with diverse characters and a charming blend of politics, momentous space negotiations, and murder mystery—along with a crucial message that people can work through their differences without resorting to violence.
Takeaway: Teenager steps up as Earth’s ambassador to negotiate interstellar peace.
Comparable Titles: Marissa Meyer’s Cress, Jina S. Bazzar’s Imperial Stardust.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Anderson is quaint, boasting a rich history as a ranching outpost as well as the occasional hunting ground for gold and silver—and now sapphires, as the Sapphire Pit has grown an influx of outsiders. The crime rate is low, and residents pride themselves on having a "high code of ethics," but for a place where "most disagreements could be solved with a few phone calls from the sheriff’s office," the town is suddenly thrust into a maelstrom of turmoil with murder, missing persons, poisoned pies, disturbing letters, threatening calls, and suspected land disputes. Peter muses in distress, "Every law enforcement officer has those cases. The ones that hit them in the gut, and the heart, and mess with their heads."
Karson introduces—albeit overwhelmingly in the first chapter—a broad set of characters, and narrowing down the suspects becomes harrowingly difficult as the story progresses. Though the emotional investment in Karson’s characters feels minimal, the unresolved case of Peter's murdered parents and the story’s international intrigue (following the involvement of Russian mafias and land ownerships) create high-stakes power struggles that surpass the typical concerns of a small community, enough to entice readers to stick around for the next treat in the series.
Takeaway: Intriguing whodunnit mixed with politics and mafia crimes.
Comparable Titles: Dennis Lehane's Mystic River, Tana French's In the Woods.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-
